Gupta under fire as Cong seeks CBI probe
Intelligence agencies begin inquiry

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 26: Intelligence agencies today started an inquiry into the distribution of Pakistan-made blankets by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Prof Chaman Lal Gupta even as two local BJP leaders clarified that blankets, which were distributed among the Sarpanchs in Udhampur yesterday, had been purchased from a City shopkeeper.

Meanwhile, Prof Gupta came under fire from several political parties and social organisations for distributing Pak-made blankets among the Sarpanchs. Two social workers of Udhampur have filed a written complaint before the SHO of Udhampur police station demanding registration of a case against the Union Minister and his immediate arrest while Congress (I) leaders demanded a CBI inquiry into blankets sources and immediate resignation of Prof Gupta.

Police sources told EXCELSIOR that sleuths of Intelligence agencies with the help of police have started investigations into the blanket scam. Sleuths have seized the documents regarding purchase of the blankets by H N Shawls Corner, Old Hospital Road reportedly from a Ludhiana based factory Roop Lal Harbans Lal. They were verifying authenticity of the documents.

Prof Gupta had late last night stated that the BJP purchased shawls from H N Shawls Corner and claimed that he had all documentary evidences to support his claim. The documents, which were now also in the possession of Intelligence sleuths and police, were being studied by the senior officers before proceeding further in the matter.

Meanwhile, two BJP leaders—Hans Raj Dogra, MLA and Chander Mohan Sharma addressed a press conference this afternoon and produced two payments bills of K N Shawls Corner under which the BJP had purchased 700 blankets from the shop.

While 300 blankets were purchased on March 22, 400 blankets were purchased on March 23. Both the bill amounted to Rs 63,000. H N Shawls owner Romesh Chander, who was also present in the news conference, produced a bill of Roop Lal Harbans Lal, Ludhiana under which he had purchased 700 blankets worth Rs 56,000.

Surprisingly, the blankets (as per the bill) were purchased from Ludhiana on March 21 and sold on March 22. The BJP leaders couldn’t give a satisfactory reply that how the blankets reached from Ludhiana and were sold within few hours.

Hans Raj Dogra said that the BJP leaders didn’t read Pakistan marking on the blankets and straightway dispatched them to Udhampur. However, when asked by the newsmen that how BJP’s election symbol (Lotus) was printed on the blankets if they were not opened at all, Chander Mohan Sharma contradicted Dogra’s statement and said the blankets were opened to print Lotus on them but party activists didn’t notice Pakistani marking on them.

"Why should we have removed the stickers"? a visibly agitated Sharma asked. He evaded direct reply to a question that how the BJP, which claims itself to be a true nationalist party with the slogans of ‘swadeshi lao, videshi baghao’, distributed Pak-made blankets.

The BJP leaders, however, claimed that the blankets were neither Pakistan-made nor were they part of the relief material sent by Pakistan for Gujarat earthquake victims. Such type of blankets were easily available in the market, they pointed out.

A Chamber of Commerce and Industry leader Satish Gupta, who was also present in the press conference, also maintained that these blankets were available in the market. Gupta couldn’t say as to whether it was legal for the shopkeepers to sell Pakistan-made blankets. A local police officer, however, said that sale of Pakistan-made blankets was illegal.

Romesh Chander, owner of H N Shawls Corner, said he had purchased the blankets from Ludhiana. He didn’t know whether the blankets were original or duplicate.

Meanwhile, two social workers-cum-political leaders of Udhampur—Bharat Bhushan and Syed Akbar Shah today submitted a written complaint to SHO Udhampur against the distribution of Pakistani-made blankets in Udhampur by Prof Gupta and demanded that an FIR should be registered against him.

Through the complaint, the two leaders said that Pak-made blankets had been procured and distributed by Prof Gupta ‘illegally and unauthorisedly’. They appealed to the police to seize the entire consignment at the earliest as a piece of evidence, which may be spoiled by the accused otherwise.

"It may not be out of place to mention that serious doubts have cropped up among the general public that blankets were meant for Gujarat earthquake victims, which were sent by Pakistan, and diverted by the BJP leadership to Udhampur for the distribution among its leaders.

Senior Pradesh Congress (I) leaders, in a joint statement this evening, demanded a CBI inquiry into blankets scandal and immediate resignation of Prof Gupta pending an inquiry into distribution of Pak-made blankets.

"Distribution of blankets with Pakistan flag in sensitive State of J&K is a matter of serious concern and has created doubts in the minds of people about the integrity of Union Government. More so, the flag of BJP with Pakistani flag on blankets need in-depth probe", the PCC (I) leaders said.

"How these blankets reach Udhampur from Pakistan? Were these blankets diverted from Gujarat relief material? And, why the blankets were used for hurting the sentiments of Indians, particularly the people of J&K fighting against the militancy"? they asked.

They alleged that anti-Indian elements and militants have been encouraged by this act of Union Minister and BJP. Security of the country in the hands of BJP is in danger, they said.

Signatories to the statement included Mangat Ram Sharma, Ayub Khan, Mir Poonchi, Ashok Sharma, Balbir Singh, Lal Singh, Chering Dorjey, Raman Bhalla, Yashpal Khajuria, Balak Ram, Diwakar Singh, Beli Ram Kundal, Parkash Sharma, Ram Dass Dogra, Lal Mohd Sabar, M L Koul, Kuldeep Sharma, Gharu Ram, Ashwani Sharma, Prem Sagar Aziz, Romesh Motan, Sardari Lal Dubey, Kewal Koul, Kamal Bakshi, Kanta Bhan, Prem Lata Bakshi, Santosh Malhotra, Surinder Singh, Rajinder Singh and Sanjeev Sharma.

In another statement, PCC (I) spokesman Mr Amrit Malhotra said the distribution of Pakistan blankets with Pak flag on one side and BJP symbol on the other side has put a question mark over the integrity and patriotism of the Union Minister.

"The unmarking process that started with the tehelka.com exposures has already convinced the nation that the BJP couldn’t be trusted with security of the nation", Malhotra said and asked for an explanation from Prof Gupta as to how did he get blankets from Pakistan, whether directly or through his contacts with the smugglers and what was his motive in distributing them to the Panchs.

The PCC (I) spokesman urged the Prime Minister and NDA partners to take serious note of the activities of their Minister. "The country couldn’t afford a person with doubtful credentials. The soon he was dropped from the Government, the better it would be in the national interest and security", he asserted.

Former Minister and other Congress (I) leaders from Udhampur district condemned Prof Gupta for distributing the blankets among Sarpanchs and Panchs, which, they said, were those which had been donated by a foreign country to the victims of Gujarat earthquake. Mr Khajuria demanded a high level inquiry into the entire episode and immediate resignation of Prof Gupta.

Other sigantories to the statement included Balak Ram, Sudesh Gupta, Krishan Kumar, Shanker Dass, Sardari Lal Dubey, Om Parkash Mangotra, Geeta Khajuria, Sunil Kapoor, Surinder, Brijmohan Sharma, Suraj Choudhary, Mohan Lal Kalsotra, Hari Krishan, Kamal Kishore Khajuria, Vijay Kumar Padha, Manohar Sharma, Prem Nath Drahi, Sunil Gupta, Bhushan Modi, Bhupinder Singh Pathania, Ram Swaroop, Noor Mohd, Shaffi Bhat and others.

Meanwhile, in Udhampur, Mr Shiv Charan Gupta, leader of the BJP Legislature Party today said the shawls with Pakistani stickers are manufactured at Ludhiana in Punjab.

In a statement, Mr Gupta refuted the news item appearing in a section of the Press that shawls distributed at Katra and Udhampur party functions were Pakistan made, donated by that country for Gujarat earthquake victims. He divulged that question of distributing Gujarat earthquake material did not arise and said these shawls had been purchased from Purani Mandi shop at Jammu.

He clarified that "shawls carrying Pak marking stickers are available in Punjab and Jammu markets in plenty, these are available in Udhampur market too".

He said the manufacturing of the shawls is done at Ludhiana in Punjab only where from with Pak marking stickers, these shawls are supplied to Kashmir valley and some pockets of Jammu region.

He termed this malicious propaganda as a gimmick spread by the Party opponents to malign the image of BJP among the masses who grew inimical to the land-slide victory of Party during the recent Panchayat elections.

Tehelka expose puts Kashmir on backburner

From B L Kak

NEW DELHI, Mar 26: The war of attrition between the Vajpayee Government and the Opposition over the Tehelka expose has put Kashmir on backburner. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), which directly handles Jammu and Kashmir affairs particularly after the Government’s cease-fire experiment in the State, as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs appear more interested in the noises triggered by the corruption in defence deals than in the Government’s commitment to making its peace initiatives in Kashmir a reality.

Precisely, the beleaguered and overburdened Prime Minister has no time, at present, to attend to his own commitment, which found a forceful expression after he announced, on February 22 in Parliament, the three-month extension of the cease-fire period in J&K. And about his Government’s proposed line of action in Kashmir, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee left none in doubt when he placed himself on record by asserting: "Peace is our objective, to peace and dialogue we remain committed because that, above all, is what the people of Jammu and Kashmir need most".

Mr Vajpayee’s order, granting the third extension of the cease-fire till the end of May, surprised few observers. Indeed, the major players from Kashmir’s All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), barring pro-Pakistan Syed Ali Shah Geelani, hailed the Prime Minister move. Undoubtedly, their support to the Prime Minister was influenced by their desire for early measures to ensure dialogue process between the Government and Hurriyat leaders on the Kashmir crisis.

The Prime Minister’s move also had the "cautious" support of major political parties, including the Congress(I) and the CPI(M), which were consulted a day before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) decided to extended the cease-fire. There appeared to be a broad consensus that the cease-fire had opened political space, which can be used to begin a "constructive" dialogue on the Kashmir crisis.

The PMO-sponsored interlocutors as well as four leaders of the Hurriyat Conference, who had quietly stepped up their activity soon after the announcement of further extension of the cease-fire, in connection with the proposed dialogue process, appeared unable to move forward, with the eruption of a major political crisis in the wake of the Tehelka revelations.

Thus, at a time when the war between the NDA Government and the Opposition has begun to be fought on the streets, what has become less clear is whether the remaining two months into the cease-fire the Union Government has any clear idea of how to realise such a dialogue.

Evidence that there is little meaningful decline in terrorist violence in Jammu and Kashmir since November last year when the cease-fire was put in place, has, significantly, been made available not only by the Farooq Abdullah Government but also by various security and intelligence agencies.

The Prime Minister and his men are currently so engrossed in matters aimed at ensuring the survival of the NDA Government that they seem to have virtually forgotten what was said and promised in the official statement of February 22. Mr Vajpayee, in fact, had proclaimed that India would be ready to engage in a dialogue with all groups that abjured violence.

Since few of the secessionist groups in Pakistan or J&K called for an end to hostilities, this formulation was somewhat mystifying. No wonder, two days later, the Prime Minister deemed it necessary to announce that his Government would be "willing to talk to all those who wished to".

While major political parties suggested the need to make the cease-fire contingent on some form of reciprocity, the conditionalities have yet to be spelt out. A leader of the Hurriyat Conference, currently based in Delhi, told EXCELSIOR that the impression had been allowed to travel across Kashmir Valley that part of the problem was the "internal division" in the Vajpayee Government over the conduct of the affairs of J&K.

According to the Hurriyat leader, the average Kashmiri has been made to believe that the Home Minister, Mr LK Advani, and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) opposed the cease-fire, arguing that a dialogue process could continue even if military operations were resumed.

According to Pakistan-watchers, the "only way" forward in Kashmir is for India to hold a dialogue with the Kashmiri people. Such a move clearly will cut at the roots of the propaganda and strategy of the Pakistani state, for which "acquiring Kashmir" has become the raison d’etre.

A flurry of statements from Pakistani leaders, pro-Pakistan Hurriyat leaders based in Pakistan and jihadi outfits reflect the level of concern in Pakistan about the political developments in Kashmir. There is little doubt that Pakistan continues to systematically play on and cynically exploit the alienation of the people of Kashmir. At every stage, it has sought to emphasise that the Kashmiri people will never be given their democratic due by India and, therefore, a plebiscite and ‘merger’ with Pakistan were a logical solution.

Sanjay Nagar firing incident
Accused turns out to be a hardcore Pak militant

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 26: The main accused of firing at Sanjay Nagar on March 24, Harmeet Singh alias Bagga, son of Baldev Singh of Khori near Poonch has turned out to be a Pakistan trained hardcore militant.

This was disclosed by Sub-Divisional Police Officer, City South Jammu Abdul Rauf Lone to media-persons here today. Mr Rauf said that during the course of investigation from his native police station it has been established that Harmeet Singh alias Bagga alongwith his two associates of Poonch had gone to Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in the year 1993 and returned during the year 1996 after getting training in various camps at PoK.

"After his return an FIR No 118/96 under Section-2/3 E and IMCO was registered against him and he was also detained under Public Security Act (PSA)", DySP Gandhi Nagar Police Station disclosed and said that again he went to PoK and second Case FIR No 32/97 under Section 2/3 E and IMCO, 3/4 ESA and 7/25 Arms Act was registered against him.

Mr Rauf further said that availability of prohibited arms in his possession further revealed that there was something fishy and required to be interrogated properly. "It was at the initiative of a team of police officers which was constituted after his arrest on March 23 that such startling disclosures came into light from his native village", he maintained and hoped that further interrogation of accused would help police to find out from where he got prohibited weapon and for what purpose he was moving suspiciously in Sanjay Nagar locality.

It is worthwhile to mention here that on March 23 at about 1600 hours general public noticed the accused moving in the Sanjay Nagar area suspiciously and started enquiry and at the spur of movement he fled away from the scene. The said Sikh youth brought out his pistol and started firing when people chased him.

In the meantime, a police party led by Station House Officer (SHO) Gandhi Nagar Police Station Mr Gian Chand Sharma and Incharge Police Post Digiana Mr Zamurd Hussain reached the spot and took the accused into custody.

The SDPO Gandhi Nagar also brought two chain snatchers, who were nabbed recently, before the media-persons. He said that on March 16 and 21 gold chains of Sheetal Vaid, daughter of Mahesh Chander of 554/A Gandhi Nagar and Anu Radha, daughter of Krishan Lal Verma of 305/A Gandhi Nagar Jammu were snatched by unknown snatchers.

He further said that SHO Gandhi Nagar Mr G C Sharma alongwith special team started a drive against the chain snatchers after registering case FIR No 98/2001 and 103/2001 under Section 382 RPC. After series of raids at different hideouts, the police team succeeded in nabbing two chain snatchers involved in said cases.

The accused have been identified as Tilak Raj alias Kaka, son of Chain Singh of Nanak Nagar and Munish Singh alias Jyoti, son of Nar Singh of Sanjay Nagar. Gold chains were also recovered from their possession. The SDPO informed that since last one year only two chain snatching cases happened under the jurisdiction of Gandhi Nagar Police Station and both were solved.

He informed that another drive has been started against the car lifters and results are expected very soon.

Political initiatives panacea to Kashmir: Mirwaiz

SRINAGAR, Mar 26: Former All Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC) chairman Mirwaiz Omar Farooq has said "only political initiatives and not patchworks like the ceasefire" will solve the 53-year-old Kashmir issue.

The only person in the APHC possessing requisite documents to travel to Pakistan, Mr Farooq told UNI here that "the problem in Kashmir is political in nature and not military". Therefore, the Vajpayee Government-sponsored truce in the Valley offers no solution.

Accusing the Centre of "creating hurdles in the Kashmir peace process", he said, "the Government lacks sincerity as it still has not specified its agenda. It should have outlined a comprehensive political package to deliberate on the basic issue which included talks with the parties concerned".

On the operational success of the ceasefire, Mirwaiz Farooq said the militant groups had outrightly rejected the ceasefire and continued their operations. The security forces too were not following the truce in its true letter and spirit, he alleged.

Though the ceasefire was extended thrice, it did not yield the desired results, the former APHC chairman said. "Until and unless more political initiatives are taken, peace cannot return to the Valley. These patchworks (ceasefire) would not solve the 53-year-old issue," he added.

Criticising New Delhi for setting pre-conditions for resumption of dialogue with Pakistan, Mr Farooq said "India till date had not committed itself towards solving the core issue. Peace cannot be achieved in vacuum".

India has been stressing that Pakistan should stop abetting cross-border terrorism as a prelude to peace talks.

Mr Farooq claimed that the Hurriyat leaders went out of the way when they had offered to visit Pakistan for parleys with leaders of various militant outfits and the Gen Pervez Musharraf Government. "But unfortunately, the offer was declined by the Vajpayee Government", he added.

On Union Home Minister L K Advani’s statement that separatist leaders would not be allowed to mediate on the Kashmir issue, the 28-year-old religious leader said, "we are a primary party to the dispute and we would not negotiate on our own issue."

Mr Farooq said though the United Nations resolution on Kashmir provides a strong base for solving the issue, the world body has failed in its duty. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan had, during his recent visit to the Indian sub-continent, declined to hold talks with the APHC.

Also blaming Pakistan for the Kargil war, he said it was not needed when the Lahore peace process was set in motion. "We are very critical of the operation."

On Pakistan’s role in sponsoring militancy across the Line of Control, Mr Farooq said, "Islamabad helps Kashmiris politically, diplomatically and morally. The military help is provided by the Government in "Azad Kashmir" (Pak-occupied Kashmir), which we consider part of Jammu and Kashmir and not Pakistan."

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in his ‘musings’ had said that "we have to shed the beaten track and look for alternatives". "But New Delhi has not pushed for that," he added.

On the internal differences within the APHC, Mr Farooq said the alliance partners are governed by a common minimum programme. Anybody violating this agenda and found going against the collective approach would be subject to disciplinary action.

He said former chairman of the amalgam Syed Ali Shah Geelani had raised certain issues at the wrong time. "The time has not come to rake up those issues," he added.

He, however, said there were no differences over the basic issues.

Omar Farooq became the 12th Mirwaiz (religious head) of Kashmir at the age of 17 years in May, 1990 when his father Mirwaiz Moulvi Mohammad Farooq was assassinated by unidentified gunmen.

In 1993, various secessionist groups formed an alliance under an umbrella organisation - the all party Hurriyat conference - and Mr Farooq was unanimously elected as its first chairman. (UNI)

Pak rules out trade ties with India till Kashmir solved

ISLAMABAD, Mar 26: Pakistan military ruler Gen Parvez Musharraf has ruled out normalisation of economic and trade relations with India until the Kashmir issue is settled.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, during which he outlined his vision to pull Pakistan out of the present economic mess and international isolation, he said he was interested in according permission and protection to the proposed multi-million dollar Iran-India gas pipeline project but he was not ready for restoration of normal economic relations between the countries till the resolution of the Kashmir problem.

"We will allow it and adhere to international norms in ensuring the security of the pipeline. But for the development of full economic relationship with India, we need to resolve our disputes... Address the issue of Kashmir to the satisfaction of all parties and then proceed to develop economic relations between both countries," he said.

The gas pipeline project involves laying a network between Iran and India through Pakistan territory. If it materialises, it would bring over eight billion dollars as foreign exchange to the cash starved Pakistan economy, which is currently reeling under 60 billion foreign and domestic debt.

In his two-hour-long press conference in which the military leader outlined his vision for Pakistan’s future, Musharraf also laid to rest all speculation concerning his own future by stating that he would not step down when his term as Chief of Army ends later this year.

"I am not going to retire in October," he said but declined to state how he would legally extend his term in office.

Musharraf ruled out any plans to hold elections before the October 12, 2002 as stipulated by the Supreme Court.

"There is no plan to hold elections before the time limit given to us. Whatever the time the Supreme Court has given us is already short," he said.

He also did not deny speculation concerning his plans to declare himself as President of the country.

Responding to a query, he said, "when the time comes, you will know it. Many things have to be discussed. I do not want to say anything on this but I have a mission to accomplish and I am trying an original Pakistan dream come true," he said.

Just as General Musharraf’s press conference was being telecast on the national network yesterday night, deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League (PML) party was being split into two, pro and anti-Musharraf factions at a meeting in Islamabad.

Mian Mohammad Azhar, who earlier broke away from Sharif was unanimously elected as the party president at a convention of PML dissidents organised here yesterday.

When asked whether he would permit political parties to take part in the future elections to the national and regional assemblies, Musharraf said it was in Pakistan’s interest to have national parties.

"We do not want political parties to fragment and we do not mind which political party wins the election. But, I am sure people will make a correct decision," he said.

He, however, ruled out permission for political parties to conduct unrestricted political activities.

Rules for the political parties and will not allow any violation, he said. (PTI)

Tehelka accused army official goes underground

NEW DELHI, Mar 26: As retired Maj Gen S P Murgai, whose name figured in the Tehelka expose, remained elusive, the high level Army Court of Inquiry (COI) today questioned his former deputy in the Directorate General of Quality Assurance, Lt Col (retd) S Sayal.

The COI, headed by Lt Gen S K Jain, spent over four-and a half hours questioning Sayal, who had earlier served in the Directorate General of Ordnance Services, Army sources said.

Some of the senior officers in the dock, including suspended Additional Director General of Weapons and Equipment Maj Gen P S K Choudhary, had identified Sayal and Murgai as having introduced them to the Tehelka sting team posing as representatives of the fictitious Manchester-based West End International Arms Firm.

The sources said Murgai, a key figure in the expose, had still not returned to his Vasant Vihar House, where the COI has served summons on him to appear before it.

If he continues to elude the inquiry, the COI might use other avenues to force him to come overground, the sources said without elaborating.

They said the COI might take up detailed grilling of suspended Gen Choudhary and four other senior officers, including Maj Gen M S Ahluwalia, Maj Gen Satnam Singh, Brig Iqbal Singh and Col Anil Sehgal in connection with the expose. (PTI)

India crosses one billion officially

NEW DELHI, Mar 26: One out of every six human beings on earth is an Indian.

According to the provisional population figures released by the Census Commission of India, the country’s population has increased by 181 million in the last ten years and now stands at 1,027,015,247 including 531,277,078 males and 495,738,169 females.

India’s share of the world population is now 16.7 per cent.

Mr J K Banthia, Census Commissioner and Registrar General of India, releasing the figures at press conference here today, said India now had 57 more persons per square km as compared to 1991.

The lowest growth rate of 9.42 per cent was recorded in Kerala followed by Tamil Nadu (11.19) and Andhra Pradesh (13.86). "Andhra Pradesh has shown the sharpest decline (10.34 per cent) among all the major States," Mr Banthia said.

Northern States, especially Bihar, has recorded the highest increase in the percentage decadal growth from 28.47 during 1981-91 to 28.43 during 1991-2001.

The country had registered a 2.52 per cent fall in its decadal growth from 23.86 during 1981-91 to 21.34 during 1991-2001—the sharpest decline since independence.

The census of the disabled was conducted for the first time since independence in the operations which began on February nine. The final report would take about two years.

The sex ratio is 933 females per 1000 males. The highest sex ratio (1058) has been reported in Kerala while Haryana has reported the lowest of 861.

Sex ratio among children between the age group of zero to six years is 927 compared to 945 in 1991. The sharpest decline has been observed in Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana. Gujarat, Uttaranchal, Maharashrtra and Chandigarh. (UNI)

Tehelka tapes lack evidence, says Shourie

NEW DELHI, Mar 26: Journalist-turned-minister Arun Shourie today said many of the Tehelka allegations were not borne out of facts and several defence deals mentioned in the tapes were sealed much before George Fernandes’ tenure as Defence Minister.

"Two pimps getting together and talking about a decent girl does not make her a prostitute," he said.

"Except for Bangaru Laxman and Jaya Jaitley there is no clear evidence in the tapes which we have seen. These are only allegations which Tehelka Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal should have checked," the Disinvestment Minister told UNI.

Asked whether he had supported the Tehelka expose in his various statements, Mr Shourie expressed dismay that he had been reported out of context.

"What I said was that I am not against certain unorthodox methods used by Tehelka. But then all the deals talked about in the tapes are mere allegations."

He said the analysis of the tapes done by him with Defence Minister Jaswant Singh clearly showed that several of the deals mentioned in the expose had been sealed during P V Narasimha Rao’s regime.

He agreed that there was clear evidence in the case of the former Bharatiya Janata Party president and the former Samata Party chief.

Asked what he would have done if he was in Tarun Tejpal’s shoes, Mr Shourie, who was known for his investigative journalism as editor of ‘The Indian Express’, said he would not have cleared the tapes which only throw allegations. (UNI)

S N Gandhi passes away

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Mar 26: Mr S N Gandhi, General Manager, DAILY EXCELSIOR, died today in the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital due to a massive heart attack.

He was 66 and is survived by his wife, a son, one daughter and grand children.

Mr Gandhi was admitted to CCU of Medical College on March 21 following cardiac arrest. The end came early today. He was cremated this afternoon. His funeral procession was joined by a large number of people from all walks of life.

Mr Gandhi had joined DAILY EXCELSIOR in 1982 and contributed a lot in the growth of newspaper.

Staff of DAILY EXCELSIOR and EXCELSIOR Printers Private Ltd held a condolence meeting here this evening and paid glowing tributes to Mr Gandhi. They extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for peace to the departed soul.

Jammu and Kashmir Journalists Union (JKJU) has also mourned the death of Mr Gandhi.

Two militants killed in Rajouri

Excelsior Correspondent

RAJOURI, Mar 26: Army today gunned down two dreaded militants of Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit at village Darah in Thanna Mandi area and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition from their possession.

Defence sources said troops of Thanna Mandi Brigade spotted two militants in village Darah at 1530 hours today and asked them to surrender. Militants tried to escape by opening heavy firing on jawans, who retaliated.

In the fierce gun-fight, two militants were killed. Troops didn’t suffer any casualty in the operation.

Two AK-47 rifles, four magazines, 120 rounds, two UBGL, one 7.62 mm pistol and explosive material were recovered from the encounter site. Identity of one of the slain militant has been established as Ishfaq Majid Qazi R/o Laa Identity of his associate couldn't be ascertained.

BPL quota rice bags seized

Excelsior Correspondent

RAMBAN, Mar 26: Banihal police today seized 120 rice bags of Food and Supplies Department, each weighing 50 kg, from a shopkeeper. The Below Poverty Liner (BPL) ration quota had been diverted by the Department officials in private market.

A Shopkeeper, who was selling the BPL ration in his shop, has been arrested. He has been identified as Mohd Yusuf, a resident of Banihal. Ghulam Abbas, an official of Food and Supplies Department has also been arrested by police.

Police sources said a Tehsil Supply Officer (TSO) of the Department, Bahadur Singh, was still at large and police was looking for him.

Investigations revealed that a total of 270 bags, weighing 135 quintals of rice, were diverted to market by the officials. While 120 bags have been recovered by police, efforts were being made to seize the remaining bags.

| home | state | national | business| editorial | advertisement | sports |
| international | weather | mailbag | suggestions | search | subscribe | send mail |